I'll Stand Tall While Your Clan Falls

Jerry's POV

I caught the threat in Lily's eyes, laid bare without any attempt to disguise it, and it hit me as almost laughable.

This was the woman I put on a pedestal for three years. And yet, for her rotten excuse of an uncle, she had the nerve to say something like this to me.

Those rose-tinted glasses through which I used to see her shattered in an instant, and I realized she was nothing special after all.

"So what?" I glanced at the engagement token she had snatched away. "As you wished, our engagement has been called off."

With that, I instructed my butler, Harold Olson, to see her out.

Lily was trembling with rage.

"Jerry, just you wait!"

Perhaps because she had been humiliated under my roof, a twisted heap of scrap metal appeared right outside my front door the very next morning.

When I noticed my car keys were missing from the entryway hook, I knew right away that the scrap metal heap was my limited-edition supercar.

Cecil must have taken it for a joyride without permission.

My heart sank. No matter how expensive a car was, it was just a material possession to me, nothing more.

But hanging in that car was the car rosary my grandmother, Suzanne Manning, left me. It was also the only keepsake I had left of her.

Just then, I received a call from Lily.

"Jerry, do you like the gift we sent you? That's what you get for crossing Cecil!"

My expression darkened as I stared at the heap of scrap metal.

"Where is my car rosary?" I asked.

"What's the matter? You want it back? Come get it yourself!" Lily retorted, her tone dripping with contempt.

"Lily, if you dare do anything to that car rosary, I swear I'll make you wish you were dead."

She snorted and said, "Spare me the act. You're nothing but a worthless bum coasting through life. My family is the new power in Starworth, so bring it on!"

With a grim expression, I ordered my assistant, Arthur Moore, to take me to the Compton residence.

My phone rang again. I was about to decline the call, but when I saw the caller's name, I took a deep breath before answering.

Kristy Hurley's voice came through, carrying her usual composure. "Jerry, are you sure you didn't call off the engagement in a fit of pique?"

I pinched the bridge of my nose. "Do I seem like the type to use a marriage alliance to spite someone?"

"No," Kristy replied, chuckling softly. "But you do seem like a fool who let a woman cloud his judgment—which is why I've found myself a clear-headed ally. If you're looking to dominate the Auropia market, my family's distribution channels are the quickest way in. We each get what we want."

Then, she fell silent for a moment before adding, "But I don't want to trade a marriage of convenience for profits."

"After tonight, that won't be the case anymore." I urged Arthur to drive faster, then said offhandedly, "See you at the engagement party."

I had barely ended the call when a piercing car horn rang in my ears.

An out-of-control semi-truck was barreling straight toward the back seat where I sat. The blinding headlights seared my eyes with pain, and the violent impact crushed the car's frame.

Warm blood trickled down my cheek, the agonizing pain making my vision go dark.

Through the shattered car window, I saw Cecil stumbling out, clutching something in his hand that emitted a soft glow.

It was the car rosary Grandma had left me!

"This thing must be worth quite a bit, huh?"

I struggled to crawl out, but it felt like several of my bones were broken. Even the slightest movement sent excruciating pain wracking through my entire body.

"Put it down," I said with great difficulty.

"Put it down?" Cecil kicked at my car door. "You've been clinging to Lily for three years. Why won't you just leave us alone?"

He suddenly raised his hand and brutally smashed the car rosary onto the ground.

A crisp cracking sound rang out.

"Cecil!" I roared, a metallic taste of blood surging up my throat. "That was my grandmother's—"

"It could belong to the King himself for all I care!" He grabbed me by my blood-soaked shirt and dragged me out of the car.

He pointed at the hickeys on his neck. "Lily did this to me. She said her body belongs to me and me alone. You think she actually liked you? You were nothing but her personal ATM!"

Cecil grew more and more frenzied as he spoke. "Who the heck are you anyway? You're nothing but a stepping stone for me and Lily to climb higher! All she had to do was crook her finger, and you'd practically hand over your life on a silver platter."

Looking at me, he threw his head back and let out a maniacal laugh.

"Jerry, since you love Lily so much, why don't you just die for her right now?"

With that, he grabbed me by the hair and slammed my head viciously against the ground.